Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Marion Jones and Justin

WirePublished: June 24, 2006 12:00AM

By BOB BAUM
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin eased through the weather-delayed first round of the 100 meters at the U.S. track and field championships Friday.
They were the fastest qualifiers to advance to the semifinals in heats that were delayed when severe thunderstorms forced postponement of most of the meets Thursday night schedule.
The 100 semifinals and finals were scheduled for later Friday.
Gatlin, who shares the world record of 9.77 seconds with Jamaican Asafa Powell, strolled to a 10.02 despite starting poorly out of the blocks and easing up at the end.
Jones eased through the finish in 11.17 on the track where she won her first two U.S. championships in the 100 and long jump at age 21 in 1997.
Finally, Im happy we got under way, Jones said. Yesterday was a long day, so its good to get one out of the way. Its one of those you just want to get done so you can move on to bigger and better things.
Lauryn Williams, reigning world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, won her heat in 11.27.
Torri Edwards, U.S. 100 and 200 champion in 2003, won her heat in 11.32. The fourth heat winner was Mikele Barber in 11.37.
Gatlin, the world 100 and 200 champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 100, has promised to shoot for the record in the finals. Powell set the world mark last year, Gatlin tied it May 12 in Doha, then Powell equaled it again two weeks ago in Gateshead, England.
It felt good, it felt easy, he said of his morning run. I got out of the blocks a little slow. There was a false start, and I didnt want to have deja vu from last year.
At last years U.S. championships, Gatlin was disqualified for a false start in the opening round, but was reinstated into the semifinals after a successful appeal. He went on to win the U.S. and world title in the event.
Jason Smoots was second-fastest among the men in the first round, winning his heat in 10.15. Other heat winners were Marcus Brunson in 10.22, Shawn Crawford in 10.26.
The 30-year-old Jones drew little response, either positive or negative, from the small crowd when introduced at Carroll Stadium.
Williams has been slowed this season by an upper respiratory infection.
It felt pretty good, Williams said. I started to wind down about 10 minutes before the race. I was kind of like, OK, just get through this round.
Jones returns to the national stage she once dominated with 13 U.S. titles four in the 100, five in the 200 and four in the long jump. She took 2003 off for the birth of her son, then struggled in her comeback with injury problems and persistent doping allegations, which she vehemently denied.
Jones ex-husband, C.J. Hunter, and BALCO founder Victor Conte have accused her of using banned performance enhancers. Her ex-boyfriend and father of her child, former world 100 record holder Tim Montgomery, has retired from the sport after being suspended for two years for doping violations. He never tested positive but was punished based on testimony and evidence from the BALCO probe.